Ecosystem Structure, Function, and Change

Ecosystem Structure, Function, and Change: Options
The Colorado Phantom Canyon Preserve is a beautiful preserve located in North-Central Colorado in the Laramie foothills about 30 miles Northwest of Fort Collins. The Phantom Canyon Preserve is among the greatest Front Range Landscapes totaling about 1,700 acres including six miles of the North Fork of the Cache La Poudre River. The Phantom Canyon Preserve is one of the last remaining canyons without a road among the Colorado’s Front Range. This preserve is home to hundreds of species of wildlife including species of special concern and hundreds of plant species.
The Nature Conservancy protects the Phantom Canyon Preserve since 1987. The main reason this preserve is protected is the ecosystem supports the Larimer Aletes which is a rare member of the parsley family. This particular plant is hard to find and can only be found in Larimer and Boulder counties with its highest concentration in the Phantom Canyon Preserve. Some other native plant species that can be found in this ecosystem are Bells Twin Pod, Needle-and-Thread Grass, and One-sided Penstemon. The Phantom Canyon Preserve serves as a habitat for species of special concern such as the Black Bear, Mountain Lion, and the Bobcat. This preserve is also home to Bald Eagles in the winter, Golden Eagles, Prairie Falcons, and Red Tail Hawks who make the high canyon walls their home.
Only six elements out of ninety-two produced in nature are required and critical to sustain the life of organisms. These elements include hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, and sulfur. These elements make up 95% of all living organisms. The elements combined which are all part of the biogeochemical cycle effect the hydrosphere, atmosphere, biosphere, and geosphere. This is a process where nutrients circulate throughout…...

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...of extracellular matrix. An unusual protein in amino acid composition (very rich in glycine (30%), proline, hydroxyproline, lysine and hydroxylysine; no tyrosine or tryptophan), structure (a triple-helical arrangement of 95-kDa polypeptides giving a tropocollagen molecule, dimensions 300×0.5 nm), and resistance to peptidases. Most types are fibril-forming with a characteristic quarter-stagger overlap between molecules producing an excellent tension-resisting fibrillar structure. Type IV, characteristic of basal lamina, does not form fibrils. Many different types of collagen are now recognized. Some are glycosylated (glucose–galactose dimer on the hydroxylysine), and nearly all types can be cross-linked through lysine side chains.
2. elastin Glycoprotein (70 kDa) randomly coiled and crosslinked to form elastic fibres that are found in connective tissue. Like collagen, the amino acid composition is unusual with 30% of residues being glycine and with a high proline content. Cross-linking depends upon formation of desmosine from four lysine side groups. The mechanical properties of elastin are poorer in old animals.
3. keratins Group of highly insoluble fibrous proteins (of high _-helical content) which are found as constituents of the outer layer of vertebrate skin and of skin-related structures such as hair, wool, hoof and horn, claws, beaks and feathers. Extracellular keratins are derived from cytokeratins, a large and diverse group of intermediate filament proteins.
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...Ecosystem Structure, Function, and Change
Ecosystem Structure, Function, and Change
In this essay I would like to talk about the fourth Connecticut Lake located in Pittsburg, NH. The main highlight of this ecosystem is that it has the straddling border between the United States and Canada. It is also one of the reserves for variety of native plants and floating bog. There are many other ecosystems around the place but this one is one unique and soothing place to learn about. There is a small glacial tarn that is settled below the ridgeline which separates the New Hampshire from Quebec.
Now as already discussed that the reserve is the home of native species of places that are protected in here, there is a medium level fen system in this place. The medium level fen system refers to the open, acidic peat lands with more miner tropic influences than the poor level fen or bogs due to the effects of upland runoff, exposure to lake and stream water, or limited groundwater seepage. This ecosystem is located along the headwater of the Connecticut River. The Connecticut Lake are comprised of four parts name the first, second, third and fourth Connecticut lakes. In all the above mentioned lakes the fourth Connecticut is the north smallest and most remote of all the four Connecticut lakes that actually brings more diversity to grow here and due to the remoteness the place is also rich in vast diversity of plans and other living things. Actually it is the source of the Connecticut......

...Ecosystem Structure, Function and Change
SCI256
April 27, 20113
Ecosystem Structure, Function and Change
Lake Tahoe is located in Sierra Nevada and is a freshwater lake over 1600 feet deep and one of the largest lakes in America. The lake is at the heart of a comprehensive ecosystem and home to a range of native species and contains a rich aquatic life. For example, the lake is home to redside dace, suckers and chub. “The ecosystem of the Lake Tahoe Basin has been dramatically altered since European settlers began to settle around the lake in the middle of the last century. Human disturbances, including introduced species, fire suppression, past overgrazing and logging, urbanization, roads, intensive recreational use, and air pollution, have affected not only the clarity of the lake, but the forest's ability to maintain the function, diversity, and resiliency of its components” (Tahoecam.com). Deforestation at the end of the 19th century, along with other issues such as drought, thinning and excessive rainfall, Lake Tahoe now has overcrowded and aged trees, yet with a 25% to 30% tree mortality which makes the danger of fires very severe (Tahoecam.com)
Generally when it comes to the quality of the water in the lake, human activities of the last 130 years have done the most damage yet have acted as the biggest impetus to restore the water quality (Tahoecam.com). Furthermore the rate of algal growth has quadrupled in Lake Tahoe since 1959: “This increase in growth is......

...Ecosystem Structure, Function and Change
Ecosystem Structure, Function and Change
In the area that I live in we have the San Luis National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge is over 26,800 acres of wetlands, riparian forests, native grasslands, and vernal pools (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, 2012). In 1966 was when the first piece of land was purchased, and since then it has grown to comprise of six refuge units. The units are called: San Luis, East Bear Creek, West Bear Creek, Freitas, Blue Goose, and Kesterson. If it were not for the refuge many animals would have lost their homes and there would actually be a few extinct species of animals as well.
In the San Luis National Wildlife Refuge there are four different types of ecosystems. The first type of ecosystem that can be found in the refuge is riparian woodlands. The riparian woodlands are found along rivers and sloughs, and they consist of willows, cottonwoods and oaks ( U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, 2012). The second type of ecosystem that can be found is wetlands. Wetlands include permanent marshes which contain water year-round. However depending on how much rain the refuge gets in the winter depends on the level of water in the wetlands. Grasslands are the third type of ecosystem in the San Luis National Wildlife Refuge and that type of ecosystem is actually the most common one in the refuge. The grasslands are dominated by annual and perennial grass species. The last of the ecosystems that is found in......

...Ecosystem Structure, Function, and Change
SCI/256
October 30, 2013
Edward Chargualaf
Ecosystem Structure, Function, and Change
In San Diego, California there is a beach area known as “The Jewel” or La Jolla. The children’s pool, La Jolla shores, and La Jolla cove make up this mile long crescent of a prime sandy beach. The children’s pool is a small cove protected by a concrete wall originally built to make a safe swimming area for children. Now the area has turned into a place for seals and sea lions to beach themselves and their babies. La Jolla shores is a place for beachgoers of all interests. You will find this as a busy swimming and surfing area. During the day it is used as a launching pad for scuba diving and kayaking. At night it’s alive with the glowing of beach fires and socializing of people. Last is La Jolla cove, where cliffs have formed a small deep water bay. Here you can enjoy activities like kayaking through caves and snorkeling seeing the marine life, like Garibaldi fish.
Many types of marine life can be found in the La Jolla shores water. On the floors of this ecosystem you can find crustaceans, mollusks, and invertebrates. While snorkeling you can find animals such as fish, rays, and sharks. Green sea turtles are one reptile that calls La Jolla shores home. The most common land animals are birds. Between La Jolla Shores and La Jolla cove is the San Diego-La Jolla underwater park, a marine life preservation and aquatic recreation zone......

...I I S V M B C
O K S H Y Q L T C B A O J O I C Z E E W
T S W E B O L L A T E I R A P V N R H F
A B A O B Q M Z N Z I L J T N Y E C J T
M H G E P A X O G E U L L N E B H E W D
O U M O T O R C O R T E X U R X L T L H
S W A I T F N I T V P J S U M A L A H T
J B Z G R M T B F C G S M C F X A S D B
Clues:
1. The part of the brain located in the temporal lobe that is responsible for our emotional response. Amygdala
2. The portion of the brain involved in intricate cognitive functioning. Cerebral Cortex
3. A part of the brain that belongs to the limbic system and is responsible for processing new memories. Hippocampus
4. A structure that is known to be a key relay station for sensory information. Thalamus
5. An area of the cerebral cortex involved in organizing, controlling, directing, and performing motor functions. Motor Cortex
6. A part of the brain located in the back of the cerebral cortex that is responsible for processing visual information. Occipital Lobe
7. The part of the brain that is highly involved in the control of the autonomic nervous system and pituitary hormone production and is also responsible for the “fight-or-flight” response. Hypothalamus.
8. The part of the brain that is located at the base of the skull and is responsible for the development and coordination of movement. Cerebellum
9. The part of the brain that is divided into left and right hemispheres, as well as four lobes. Cerebrum
10. The lobe of the brain near the......

...are many ecosystems in the Amazon rain forest, for example one of the major ecosystems in the Amazon Rain forest is the Amazon River. It runs four thousand miles down the Amazon, and is one hundred and twenty miles wide. The Amazon River is home to anacondas and many other life forms species. However the Amazon River is only the second largest river in the world.
The Amazon is home to many indigenous tribes and animals. The climate change in the weather is of concern to people, who take a closer look into the fact that, the Amazon River and the forest itself needs to be preserved. It’s of concern to others, because the weather is unpredictable, which does not give its people enough time or resources to prepare for upcoming floods or extreme droughts. That ruins the plants and land. Another concern is the international involvement. Brazil needs assistance, and cannot control the illegal activities that happen in the Amazon Forest. For example, gang activities and drug trafficking.
Environmental can pose great change in the human health in a number of ways. Human interference in the Amazon forest has affected the ecosystem- fresh water, food, timber, fiber and fuel, biological products, detoxification of nutrients and waste management, and regulations of infectious disease. Climatic changes can place great stress on agricultural production and on the coastal fisheries leading to malnutrition and prone to diseases, and other ailments. Deforestation can also change the......

...Ecosystems and Economics Paper
BIO/280
Ecosystems and Economics Paper
Our society has come to a point in time where we are more concerned about having the latest thing. While humans choose to consume natural resources our ecosystems are diminishing. In this paper I will discuss degradation, loss, effecst humans have on our planet, and the cost and benefits of human enterprise in terms of ecosystems.
Degradation and Loss
In past years, people have reshaped ecosystems, faster and more ample than in any time in history. While meeting fast growing request on food, fresh water, timber, and fuel. Resulting in a permanent loss in diversity of life on this planet. “These alteration we have made to our ecosystem have contributed to considerable net gain in human well-being and economic development, these gains have been achieved at growing cost in the form of the degradation of many ecosystem services” (Leemans, 2003).
Effects of human activity on ecosystems
Humans and technologies are disturbing the trophic structure, energy flow and the chemical balance of ecosystems worldwide. Humans move nutrients from one place to another in an ecosystem. Example; Soil from a farm can be transported into streams, and lakes, diminishing nutrients in an area causing excess to develop in another area, and disturbing chemical cycles in both areas. Introduction of toxic chemicals by humans into ecosystems have caused these chemicals to be consumed and metabolized by organisms. These......

...Ecosystem Structure, Function, and Change paper
Zachery
Thursday, February 12, 2015
SCI 256
Ecosystem Structure, Function, and Change paper
Prior to restoration the area now known as the Chamna Natural Preserve was used to facilitate illegal dumping and racing. It was not until 1997 that cleanup of this shrub-steppe ecosystem began. Area such as this have begun to be maintained by associations with the intentions of restoring or maintaining these natural reserves. We will discuss the major structural and functional dynamics for the Chamna Natural Preserve. Along with how humans may have affected the cycling of matter in the ecosystem, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, or carbon. How knowledge can or has helped to develop plans for restoration or management. Then finally about the implications of species interactions in this specific ecosystem.
Structures and Functions of the Chamna Natural Preserve
The Functional dynamics of this shrub-steppe ecosystem are undergoing change, and people are involved. According to Smith (2001), “Climate change will alter the nitrogen cycling in the fragile soil of semi-arid desert regions.” Since nitrogen loss is more prevalent in warmer, drier areas then cooler, wetter areas. The microbial processes related to the cycling of nitrogen are more related to the changes is climate, then by plant competition for nitrogen. Meaning that the stability of this shrub-steppe ecosystem is highly dependent on the ecosystems ability to adjust to......

...Ecosystem Structure, Function, and Change
Doris Winters
SCI/256
September 7, 2015
University of Phoenix
Ecosystem Structure, Function, and Change
Of all the wonders we have in these United States, I have chosen The Great Lakes as my topic to discuss the changes these wonderful bodies of water are currently experiencing. I have narrowed my view to Lake Michigan, as it is the largest of the lakes. From the EPA: On November 15, 1990, in response to mounting evidence that air pollution contributes to water pollution, Congress amended the Clean Air Act and included provisions that established research and reporting requirements related to the deposition of hazardous air pollutants to the "Great Waters." The water bodies designated by these provisions are the Great Lakes, Lake Champlain, Chesapeake Bay, and certain other coastal waters (identified by their designation as sites in the National Estuarine Research Reserve System or the National Estuary Program). (EPA, 2015)
Lake Michigan currently functions with the dynamic, being it has exceptional fishing, irrigation and provides clean drinking water to the communities surrouding the lake. Its structural dynamic as an ecosystem currently offers for research and developmet all human threats. An example is the introduction of invasive species, such as zebra mussels and those HABs (Harmful Algal Blooms), that expand because of the nutrients in certain fertalizers. The scientific community is also doing research yearly,...

...Ecosystem Structure, Function, and Change Paper
(Great Lakes)
Shantera Bell
October 26, 2015
SCI/256
UOP
The Great Lakes region is rich with life and full of native species well adapted to survival. However, since the early 1800s, many non-native plants, animals and microscopic organisms have been introduced into the Great Lakes, either accidentally or intentionally. Great Lakes native species are diverse and interesting and contribute to a healthy ecosystem. There are many unique and interesting birds, fish and plants found in Michigan and throughout the region that are integral to the health of the Great Lakes ecosystem. More than 140 species of birds depend on Michigan’s coastal habitat during their life cycle. Coastal wetlands, beaches, sand dunes and remote islands provide food and shelter for both resident and migratory species.
Waterfowl such as Canvasback and Scaup are among the many species that use coastal wetlands as stopover sites to rest and refuel. Shorebirds including the endangered piping plover fly thousands of miles to nest on undisturbed beaches and remote Great Lakes islands.
Because of their use of the coastal lands, there are thousands of great locations to see both resident and migratory bird species throughout Michigan and the Great Lakes region. State parks, national parks, wildlife refuges and sanctuaries throughout the state all provide good bird-watching opportunities. Some sites along Michigan’s Great Lakes shoreline are......

...Ecosystem Structure, Format, and Change
Trevor Hyland
sci/256
July 20, 2015
University Of Phoenix
Ecosystem Structure, Format, and Change
Lake Tahoe is the largest alpine late in North American, the 16th deepest lake in the world and is also one of the largest lake in America it is located in Sierra Nevada and is a freshwater lake over 1,600 feet deep which makes it the second deepest lake in the united states. The lake is at the heart of a comprehensive ecosystem and contains rich aquatic life and has a range of native species for example, the lake is home to residence, suckers and chub. “The ecosystem of the Lake Tahoe Basin has been dramatically altered since European settlers began to settle around the lake in the middle of the last century. Human disturbances, including introduced species, fire suppression, past overgrazing and logging, urbanization, roads, intensive recreational use, and air pollution, have affected not only the clarity of the lake, but the forest's ability to maintain the function, diversity, and resiliency of its components” (Tahoecam.com).
At the end of the 19th century, along with other issues such as drought, thinning and excessive rainfall, Lake Tahoe now has overcrowded and aged trees, yet with a 25% to 30% tree mortality which makes the danger of fires very severe (Tahoecam.com).
When it comes to the quality of the water in the lake, human activities over the last 130 years have done the most damage yet the human activities in the......

...Ecosystem Structure, Function, and Change
Hector Canseco
SCI/256
04/30/2015
Carolyn Miller
Freshwater Ecosystem is a relatively small in area about 1.8% of the earth’s surface. It consists of ponds and lakes which range in size from just a few square meters to thousands of square miles. All throughout the earth several are remnants from glaciers thousands of years ago. Many ponds are seasonal, lasting just a couple of months while lakes may exist for hundreds of years or more. Ponds and lakes may have limited species since they are often isolated from one another and from other water sources like rivers and oceans. Lakes and ponds are divided into three different zones, which are usually determined by depth and distance from the shoreline. Streams and rivers are also part of the fresh water ecosystem. These are bodies of flowing water moving in one direction. Streams and rivers can be found everywhere, they get their starts at headwaters, which may be springs, snowmelt or even lakes, and then travel all the way to their mouths, usually another water channel or the ocean. The type of a river or stream changes during the journey from the source to the mouth. The temperature is cooler at the source than it is at the mouth. The water is also clearer, has higher oxygen levels, and freshwater fish such as trout and bass can be found there. Towards the middle part of the stream or river, the width increases as does species, numerous aquatic green plants and algae can be......

...Lake Erie Ecosystem Structure, Function, and Change
Denise McSalters
SCI 256
November 13. 2013
University of Phoenix
Lake Erie Ecosystem Structure, Function, and Change
Carved out by glaciers during the last ice age the Great Lakes contain 20% of the earth’s fresh water. The lakes provide the majority of the basin’s human population with drinking water, commerce and recreation. Lake Erie is the smallest of the Great Lakes, relatively shallow, and is exposed to prevailing winds. Lake Erie ecosystem supports a diverse group of aquatic and land-dwelling organisms who use the ecosystem during important life stages. The lake support high production of both residential and migratory species and is a center for regional biodiversity. (US Department of the Interior; US Geological Survey, 2013)
Because Lake Erie is exposed to prevailing winds, it is particularly susceptible to intense wave actions and wind-generated changes in the lake level. The “seiches” or changes in the lake tides interchangeably flood and drain the coastal wetlands systems. The costal wetland systems encompass southeastern Michigan, northwest Ohio and southern Ontario. The Watershed is almost completely urban or agricultural. The major urban cities are Toledo, Detroit, Cleveland, and Buffalo. (US Environmental Protection Agency, 2013)
The most obvious forcer of Lake Erie ecosystem change was due to the input of excessive amounts of phosphorus from mainly agriculture and water treatment plants. ......

...Brain Structures and Functions Worksheet
PSY/340 Version 3
1
University of Phoenix Material
Brain Structures and Functions Worksheet
Provide a brief description for each of the following functions:
1.
Basal ganglia
The basal ganglia (or basal nuclei) are a group of nuclei of varied origin in the brains of vertebrates that
act as a cohesive functional unit. They are situated at the base of the forebrain and strongly connected
2. with the cerebral cortex, thalamus and other brain areas. The basal ganglia are associated with a variety of
Corpus collosum
functions, including voluntary motorof nerve fibers that divides the cerebrumroutine behaviors or "habits"
The corpus callosum is a thick band control, procedural learning relating to into left and right
such as bruxism, eye movements, and cognitive,of the brainfunctions. for communication between both
hemispheres. It connects the left and right sides emotional allowing
3. hemispheres. The corpus callosum transfers motor, sensory, and cognitive information between the brain
Temporal lobe
hemispheres. lobes are one of the four main lobes or regions of the cerebral cortex. Structures of the
The temporal
limbic system, including the olfactory cortex, amygdala, and the hippocampus are located within the
4. temporal lobes. The temporal lobes play an important role in organizing sensory input, auditory
Occipital lobe
perception, language and speech production, asperception system. They are not......